Continuous buttermaking process and apparatus



Aug. 18, 1953 w. WILSMANN CONTINUOUS BUTTERMAKING PROCESS ANQ APPARATUSFiled 001;. 14, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR W/LHELM W/LSMANNATTORNEYS Aug. 18, 1953 w. WILSMANN CONTINUOUS BUTTERMAKING PROCESS ANDAPPARATUS Filed Oct. 14, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR W/LHELM W/LSMANN BY 6 kph-633$ ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 18, 1953 CONTINUOUSBUTTERMAKING PROCESS AND APPARATUS Wilhelm Wilsmann, Oelde, Westphalia,Germany, assignor to Westfalia Separator, A. G., Oelde, Germany, aGerman corporation Application October 14, 1950, Serial No. 190,126 InGermany November 21, 1949 9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in continuousbutter making.

In continuous butter making, a continuous flow of cream is subjected toa high speed beating or whipping action to be thereby converted intobutter corn which is thereafter separated from the butter milk andsubsequently crushed and mixed into a. fine texture constituting theultimate butter. A continuous butter making machine may thus, forexample, comprise a buttering cylinder provided with a high speed.beating arrangement, such as shaft mounted beating paddles, whichconvert the continuous fiow of cream intothe butter corn and a pressoffcylinder which may be equipped with, for instance, 2 worms running inopposite directions to separate the butter corn from the butter milk.Provision is additionally made for means pressing and mixing the buttercorn into a fine textured butter product which may be obtained then fromthe delivery end of the continuous butter machine in a continuouslyflowing string or ribbon of finished butter product.

The keeping qualities, taste and appearance of a butter product may beappreciably improved .by the addition of salt, aroma-impartingsubstances, coloration, etc. but especially by the washing of the buttermaterial. In the hitherto conventionally used intermittent butterproduction a certain amount of cream is charged into a tub or tub-likecontainer and is beaten in the same until it is worked up into a butterof the desired texture. This butter is then washed with water prior toits removal from the tub, in order to remove albuminous substances andlactose therefrom, whereby improved keeping qualities of the butter areobtained. The butter, while still in the tub, is thereafter providedwith additions of suitable materials, such as salt,

' aroma-imparting substances, coloring materials, etc, while slowlyworking the butter product so as to thoroughly incorporate theseadditions.

In the relatively recently developed, continuously operating buttermachines, in which as above described, cream continuously flows into themachine and a ready butter product continuously emerges therefrom with acontinuous discharge of separated butter milk, the washing of the butterand/or the addition of desired or required additives has presentedconsiderable difficulties. In continuously operating buttering machinesthe butter milk is continuously removed at a location at which thebutter corn and the butter milk are passed from the buttering cylinderinto the press-off device. It is therefore i not possible as is thescase in continuous buttering operations using a butter tub, to firstdraw the butter milk and to thereafter add the washing water. If, on theother hand, wash water would be introduced at the point of passage ofthe butter corn and the butter milk into the press-off device, thebutter milk would become diluted. A similar condition would prevail ifbutter-treating additives, such as, for instance, salt, bacteriacultures, aroma-imparting substances, coloring solutions and the like,would be added in this manner. These materials would only partially passinto the butter, being preponderantly removed with the butter milk,thereby rendering the same unusable.

One object of the invention comprises among others, arrangements for thesimple and easy addition of butter-treating additives during continuousbutter making operations.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will be apparent fromthe following description read in conjunction with the drawings, inwhich:

Fig. 1 shows a side view of a continuous buttering machine with parts incross-section and incorporating an embodiment in accordance with theinvention;

Fig. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional side view of part of theconstruction shown in Fig. 1 except for an alternative embodiment of anadditive supplying arrangement;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional side View of part of the construction shownin Fig. 1 and demonstrating yet another alternative of additivesupplying arrangement;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional View of the construction shown in Fig. 3 onthe plane IV-IV thereof; and

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 show cross-sectional side views of parts of theconstructions embodying still further alternatives in accordance withthe invention.

In accordance with the invention butter treating additives are passedinto the butter corn material at a stage of butter milk separation atwhich the major portion of the butter milk has been already separatedfrom the butter corn and preferably to the extent of a butter milkbalance or remnant which, on the one hand, Will not seriously interferewith any additive admixture, and on the other, is relatively so smallthat its loss is practically insignificant. If the additive is not onefor Washing purposes this butter milk remnant may serve, if desired, tofix the water content of the butter. It is in this manner possible tofurther remove a certain portion of this butter milk whereby on accountof the relatively the cream 'may have soured either naturally, i byfermentation with naturally occurrir or.

admixed for the purpose with .pre-grown cultures of lactic acidbacteria.

" butter texture.

3 small quantities thereof, it is not necessary to pay any particularattention to the quality of this butter milk. Wherever the expressionbutter treating additives or similar designation is used hereinthere is"meant to be included thereby an additive for the treatment of butterproducts of the type which may be largely again removed prior to thefinal preparation of the finished product, as for example, a washingmedium-such as water and the like, as well as of the type which willpartially or predominantly remain in the finished butter product, suchas, for example, salt, aroma-imparting substances; coloring matter andthe like. in further includes within the intended meaning thereof suchbutter treating additivesasmayre act with or act upon the butter or acomponent ingredient thereof, such as, for example, bacteria cultures,or the like.

Within the preferred embodiment of the invention the admixture ofadditives for the butt-er treatment is best made at a stage of thecontinuous buttering process at which there has been ing thereof intothe "ultimate butter texture. Normally solid additives may be admixed inacoordance with the invention, either as such, or

eration by way of the second opening closer adjacent the final butteremerging end portion of the machine. When adding dry salt the latter maybe finely dispersed into and through the opening by a simpledistributors device. It may be then of advantage to combin thedistributing arrangement of the salt or other solid additive 'with meansfor simultaneously finely grinding the butter. is frequently about1.5-2%. In t e Un ted The expression as so used hereeffected apreliminary pressing together of the butter corn but before the finalworking or knead- H in substantially liquid-form. Such liquid form maybe that of adispersion or solution of the material. Liquid additives maybeadded as such or in solution in a ncnsadditive solvent or by way ofemulsion in an additive or non-additive liquid.

for example a vegetable fat, which, depending on legal regulations inthe various localities be i at times permissive forcertainspecialurposes. An additivein theform of' a suitable bacteria culture maybe,for instance, a culture of lactic acid bacteria and preferably those ofore-selected pure grown strains in order to impart tothe but- .terproduct a certain characteristic'taste wb c is highlydesired in manylocalities.

is otherwise frequently obtained by subjecting a sour cream to thebuttering operation, whereby One arrangement. in accordance with theinvention may, for instance, include one or two successively locatedopenings on top of the mixing ,or kneading portion of a continuousbuttering ter treatment additive oradditives may be added to the buttercornorpartly finished butter product while the same is being worked orpre sed together for its final conversion into 'de The additives may beadmixed The additives may also include such materials for instance,another fatter 'fatty substance as Such a taste at this stage in seriesin the event that several successive openings are present. Thus, forinstance, water and non-aqueous additives may be admixed at successivestages of this pressing toadditives, such ascoloring material, aroma:

imparting substanceaetc. which are admixedat a more advanced 'stage ofthe pie-kneadingcpcOneoi' the openings or apertures or such single'aperturaas the case may be, serving the introduction of butter treatingadditive or additives, may be provided with a sprinkler or shower heador similar device for the purpose of efiecting the admixture to thebutter materialin substantially liquid form, such as for example a saltsolution, a solution of aroma imparting materials, a 'solution ofcoloring matter, etc. Itis also possible, if desired or expedient, tofurnish'wash water as an additive'by wayof direct connection .to thesource of watersupply, th Water conduitleading directly into thepresseo'ff cylinder at'the desired location of. the butter. processingstage thereof. It is further possible tocut a heat-exchangerintothewater supply conduit to thereby permit control of. the temperature ofthe added water by either-"permitting the raising or lowering of saidtemperature in order to b-ringthe-same into accord with the required ordesired temperature mostfavorable for the butter processingat theparticular stage at. which the water may be washed or most iavorable-tothe washing operation itself in relation to-Such butter processingstage.

Referring to Fig. 1 cream, and preferably-precooled cream, is passedinto the butter machine by way of the funnel .l, the continuous flow ofcream so entering theemachine being continuously beaten in the butteringcylinder 2 by way of the high speed beater-bars orpaddles 3 mounted onthe high R. P; M. beater: shafted suitably driven by a conventionalmotorlnot shown) located in housing la.; Butter corn is rapidly formedby the high speed heating or whipping operation inside butteringcylinder 2, usuallyin a matter of seconds, and the mixture of buttercorn and butter milk: is passed'from the buttering cylinder 2 bythe-beater action and continuously in-flowing cream, into the conduit orhood 4 through which it passes or drops into the pressoiT cylinder 5through a suitable opening in the top thereof. Press-off cylinder, 5carries two counter-directionally rotating worms 6 and 6a (Figs. 1 and4), whichare driven by suitable driving means located'within-housing 'ibofthe buttering machine and-not shownin detail. These may eithercomprise independent'motor means or 'gearin isuitably connected to themotor within housing la. The action of the counter-rotating worms 6' andits presses the butter milk out-of the butter product, therebyseparating the same, the buttermilkb'eing collected in the sump pan ortrough l whence it discharges by way of .the-gooseneck conduitv 8. Theseparated butter corn is continuously transported towards the discharge.endxlfiof'the buttering machine and is forced through the multipleapertures of the perforate'dvplate or disc "is and thence through thespacel ia and again through the multiple apertures of the. perforatedplates or discs '9, l0- and II, to finally emerge from the end piece ordischarge end l3. Final kneading and working of the butter isaccomplished in the spaces intermediate the perforated discs or plates9, l and I0, II by way of the paddle or screw wings I2, the screw wingl2a finally pressing the finished butter material away from perforateddisc ll through the end portion l3.

On top of the cylinder portion 5a forming substantially an extension ofthe press-oil cylinder 5 and in the embodiment shown as substantiallypart thereof, an aperture I5, preferably with a recessed or funnelledrim, is provided. A conduit [5a cooperating with the aperture l5 servesthe admission of butter treating material into the interior of thepressing together stage 5a. In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. l asalt mill [6 is provided. Salt in the hopper l9 passes continuously intothe throat l9a of the mill 16, to be there conventionally ground by, forinstance, the conical grinding wheels I8 (only one shown). Grindingwheels l8 are suitably driven by the motor I? and the ground salt passesthrough the shaker conduit Ifia into the additive conduit I50. andthence through aperture l5 into the pressing together portion 5a of thedevice. Suitable dimensioning of the salt mill and adjustment ofgrinding speeds will permit the addition of a predetermined dosage ofsalt into the butter corn material within the pressing together portion5a, as may be called for by a required or desired salt content of theultimate butter product.

Referring to Fig. 2, the salt mill arrangement of Fig. l is theresubstituted by a sprinkler or shower head for the admixture of liquidbutter treating additives. By way of further alternatives ofsubstantially single location admixture of additive material andespecially in connection with substantially solid additives, there isillustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 a dispersing mechanism for such buttertreating additives. The device there shown is particularly suitable forthe addition of pulverulent or granular additives to the butter corngoods in the pressing together portion 5a of the device. An electricmotor 2| drives the disperser roll 22, which continuously receives thematerial from hopper 24, shaking the same onto the screen 23. Thedispersing roll or shaft 22 is provided with a substantially spirallyextending channel for gripping predetermined amounts of the material inhopper 2d, distributing the same onto the screen 23. By suitabledimensioning of the channeling on the disperser shaft or roll 22 and thespeed adjustment of motor 2|, desired dosage of addition of finelydivided material through aperture 15 may be obtained.

In the practical operation of the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1, 3and 4, the predominant portion of the butter milk has been separatedfrom the butter corn by the time the latter is pressed through theperforated disc [4, leaving only a relatively small and usuallyinsignificant amount of butter milk in the butter corn product as it isworked up in the pressing together portion 5a of the device. Theadmixture of solid additive at this stage will cause the same to becomevery finely disseminated throughout the butter corn product, becoming asubstantially integral part of the ultimate butter product and withoutany appreciable loss of added material. The same results hold true whenproceedin in accordance with the embodiment exemplified by Fig. 2 inwhich a substantially liquid additive is provided. Also in this case themajor portion of the butter milk has been already removed and the liquidadditive is thoroughly worked into the butter corn and thus the ultimatefinished butter product. As is shown in the drawings a coolingarrangement, such as cooling jacket [4a, may be provided to control thetemperature within the butter milk press-ofi portion of the press-offcylinder 5.

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate arrangements where the additive is a washingliquid, such as water. A sprinkler or shower head 25 (Fig. 5) isarranged to discharge dispersed washing liquid into the aperture l5 byway of the conduit l5a. The washing liquid, such as water, is thenthoroughly worked into and out of the butter com the waste liquid beingseparated by the pressing together action and collecting in the sump panor trough 26 to discharge by way of the goose neck conduit 27. Anyexcess remainder of washing liquid remaining in the pressed togetherbutter corn product as it reaches the perforated plate or disc 54 isremoved by the action of forcing the butter corn through the same intothe various kneading spaces. An alternative arrangement for the additionof washing liquid is, for instance, illustrated in Fig. 6. As thereshown, a direct pipe connection to the regular fresh water system isattached to the press-off cylinder at 28. The fresh water conduit 28a ispreferably passed through a heat-exchanger, such as the jacket 29,through which cooling or heating medium may be passed, as may berequired by the particular conditions of the buttering process in themachine. The fresh water entering the pressing together portion 5a ofthe cylinder 5 is worked into and out of the butter corn as the same isbeing pressed together. The working in and out of the washing liquid,such as water, with respect to the butter corn is accomplished or aidedby the two counter-directionally turning worms 6 and 6a arranged in thepress-oil cylinder substantially throughout the length thereof andpositioned relative to each other, as for instance exemplified in Fig.4. The washing water (Fig. 6) which is continuously separated from thebutter corn after having been worked through the same is then dischargedby way of an overflow arrangement in the conduit [5a, the waste waterpassing into the same through aperture [5 and down through waste waterconduit 30, being thence discharged through the screen 3| on which anybutter particles that may have been carried along by the waste water arecollected and may be recovered therefrom.

There is illustrated in Fig. 7 an arrangement by which both a washingliquid and a substantially solid additive may be provided in thepressing together stage of the press-ofi cylinder. In this case thepressing together stage 519 is somewhat longer than is the case whereaddition at a single point is made. As there shown, the pressingtogether portion 5b of thepress-off cylinder is provided with a washingliquid arrangement similar to that shown in Fig. 6. In this case thefresh water line is connected to the press-01f cylinder 5 at 32 and thewaste water discharges through the aperture 33 and extension 330. by wayof overflow through the waste discharge conduit 3 any butter particlescarried along being retained for recovery on the screen 31a. There isthus defined a washing stage within the pressing together portion 51) ofthe device. Following this washing stage in the direction of buttertransport through the press-off cylinder 5 an ar- .subs-tantia ytreating ad i rangement for the introduction ofa substantially solidadditive is rovided. latter arrangement is somewhat'sifnilar to thatillustrated in, for instanceIFig. I. As exemplified by a material whichis preferably, round before addition, such as for instance, salt, thegrinding mill 3B is secured to the device. Grinding mill '36 is drivenby motor 3! and has the grinding wheels 33, preferably of conical shape(only one shown). The material to be ground, such as salt, iscontinuously passed into the bite of the grinding wheels froni'thehopper 39' and the ground material is "then discharged in dispersed formthrough theconduittl'ia into the additive conduit .B-Sa entering thepressing together stage of the press-'ofi' cylinder through the aperture35.

, Though not mail casesabsolutely essential, it is preferred to arrangea second perforated disc or plate 14c to thereby separate the washingstage paratively large proportion of the additive into the wastage.

As is apparent from the foregoing, the method ithin the broad concept ofthe invention essentially comprises the substantially continuousaddition of a butter treating additive tothe butter corn during thepressing together thereof and prior to the kneading of the butter corninto the finished butter product, and the recovery of theadditive-treated butter material. The device within the broad concept ofmy invention for carrying out the novel method thereof essentiallycomprises the combination or a butter compressing together conduit andmechanism therein of 4 a substantially continuous'buttering machine andconduit means positioned and adapted to pass a a butter additive intosaid pressing together conduit.

I claim;

1. Me'thcdiorthe addition of butter-treating yes to butterheing-pnoduced in a continubutteremaking machine or" the; type in whicha mixture of butter milk and butter corn is passed through apresswfioylinder provided with worms for the separation of the buttercorn from the butter miik andzhaving means at the end of the press-offcylinder for pressing and kneading the corn to a fine-textured but erproduct which is cont-innously delivered from the end of the press-offcylinder, which comprises establishing a-t'ieast one passage into thepressoii cylinder at the place along the press-oh cylinday where a majorportion of the butter milk haslbeen separa-ted from the butter cornpassing through the press off cylinder prior to the kneading means'atthe endof the press-off cylinder and continuously adding a butterd tiveto the butter corn through said passage. 7 i g 2. lv'iethod according toclaim 1, in which said additive is washingwater and which includeskneadingzone'eac h 7 defined in the hou said .exit.

3. Method according to'claiin 2, which includes establishing at leastone additional passage into said press-oh cylinder past the place wherethe washing water is added and removed from the press-on" cylinder andsubstantially continuously adding. a butter-treating additive to thewashed butter corn for preponderant-retention thereby.

e. Iviethocl according to claim 1', inwhich said additive is abutter-treating material which is substantially continuously addedto'said butter corn for preponderant retention thereby.

5; in a continuous butter-making machine having a press-'offcylinder,with wormsfor separating butter corn from butter milk; and means at theend of the press-off cylinder for pressing and kneading the butter corninto a fine'textured butter product "for delivery fromthe'endof thepress-off cylinder, perforated partition means positioned in thepess-off cylinder at aplace where the major portion of the buttermilkwill have been separated by the worms from butter corn eing passedthrough the press-01f cylinder, and conduit means positioned'in front ofsaid partition means and dimensioned for the passage of abutter-treating additive into the press-off cylinder.

6. Continuous"cutter-making machine according'to ciaiin a, in'which saidconduit means are washing water conduit means and including waste waterdischarge means positioned in front of said partition means forthe'discharge of wa- 'er which has been passed into saidpylinder throughsaid conduit means and worked through any butter corn iirthe cylinder infront of said partition means by the-worms.

W. Continuous butter-making machine according to claim 5, including-saltgrinding and dis-- pensing means dimensioned and positioned fordispensing salt into said conduit means.

8 In a continuous butter-making machine having a press-off cylinderwith-worms for the separation of butter corn ironi butter milkand meansfor pressing and kneading the butter corn into a fine tex ured butterproduct at the end 'of the press off cylinder for delivery from thepresspfi cylinder, at least two perforated partitions first conduitnieans'positioned and dimensioned to pass a washing liquid into saidwashing zone, first liquid'd-ischarge means connected to said "washingan e for removing waste -w-ashing"-liquid therefrom, andmeans'positioned and di- -mensioned for passing additive into saidpreiin'ead' ingzone.

9; Gontinnous-butter-making machine according to claim in which'saidconduit means and said means for pas ng additive to said preiclude atleast one aperture g ofthe press-off cylinder.

References Cited in the of this patent v UNITEDETATES PATENTS

1. METHOD FOR THE ADDITION OF BUTTER-TREATING ADDITIVES TO BUTTER BEINGPRODUCED IN A CONTINUOUS BUTTER-MAAKING MACHINE OF THE TYPE IN WHICH AMIXTURE OF BUTTER MILK AND BUTTER CORN IS PASSED THROUGH A PRESS-OFFCYLINDER PROVIDED WITH WORMS FOR THE SEPARATION OF THE BUTTER CORN FROMTHE BUTTER MILK AND HAVING MEANS AT THE END OF THE PRESS-OFF CYLINDERFOR PRESSING AND KNEADING THE CORN TO A FINE-TEXTURED BUTTER PRODUCTWHICH IS CONTINUOUSLY DELIVERED FROM THE END OF THE PRESS-OFF CYLINDER,WHICH COMPRISES ESTABLISHING AT LEAST ONE PASSAGE INTO THE PRESSOFFCYLINDER AT THE PLACE ALONG THE PRESS-OFF CYLINDER WHERE A MAJOR PORTIONOF THE BUTTER MILK